Samoa Joe talks WWE, Ring of Honor & more

Samoa Joe is open to go to WWE if the right opportunity presents itself

In a recent interview with Chad Dukes of ChadDukesWrestling.com, Samoa Joe spoke on a variety of topics. Below are few highlights:

Returning to Ring of Honor:“I think certain times in your career you reexamine things and a change of scenery is nice. It’s good for the fans, it’s good for me, and I think it’s healthy all around. I’m excited about some new matches for me, there’s some guys out there I haven’t had a chance to work with especially some younger guys, up and comers, that I think have tremendous promise and talent and I get to get in there and mix it up with them.”

“It kinda was a culmination over the past few months of various factors, various reasons. You kind of come to these big decisions and I kind of looked around saw the landscape of things and thought it was the time.”

ROH making a run at being the #2 promotion:“I don’t really have a grasp of what Sinclair’s intentions are. I really haven’t dealt much with the new regime yet. Like I said this is my return after an absence, I think 2008 is the last time I did anything with Ring of Honor. I think they want to grow and make their brand bigger, and bringing in myself and [Patron, Styles, etc] that’s going to help with that. It takes tremendous infrastructure; it takes a lot of careful planning and wise decisions so it’s a lot more than the talent that walks through the door.”

People saying AJ Styles’ Styles Clash should be banned:“I’ve taken the Styles Clash several times and AJ’s a formidable athlete in his own right, it’s never been an issue of safety with me ever. I understand how people feel, there’s obviously been injuries involved with it, but I know especially with my very long-term experience with experiencing the move on all ends of it, it’s always been a safe as far as injuries go move and I’ve never really had an issue with it.”

Possibly facing CM Punk again:“Time will tell and that’s really up to him and obviously his obligations to UFC. I know he’s training real hard for his upcoming fight but if he wants to throw down, if he wants to scrap, you can come over here and start off with me and see what’s left when you go into the octagon.”

Possibly doing MMA:“I really haven’t put any thought to it. I like to train, I train with a bunch of really awesome dudes here locally and back when I was full-time in California, it’s kind of a world that’s always been around me. I love pro wrestling, man and I’m a pro wrestler and I love what I do.”

Top indie stars making it to WWE NXT:“I’m over the moon happy for those guys. Anyone that knows what the independent wrestling life is, it’s quite a grind, and for years there was that connotation kind of attached to it where a lot of those guys wouldn’t get a fair shot in a bigger company. To see those guys doing so well and to see those guys taking the opportunity and running with it, I think it’s indicative of what you’ll find out on the independent circuit in a lot of cases. It’s interesting, I think Hunter he’s kinda come to realize that. I think most wrestlers up there they do respect the journeymen, the guys that go out there and grind it out, do this for the love and they realize there’s talent out there.”

Possibly going to WWE and starting in NXT:“I’ve never shied away from an opportunity to prove myself. Every promotion I’ve ever worked for, initially when I started out, never wanted me. I remember my first Ring of Honor show and [Gabe Sapolsky. Former ROH booker] told me, ‘Hey listen, we can’t afford a flight out from California every month, so it will probably be a one-off deal.’ And then walking back through the curtain after that first match and him going, ‘you’re on every show.’ I think when you do get to the point where you’re not willing to go out there and prove what you can do, I understand guys they feel strongly a certain way, that’s fine, I think it’s individual for everybody, but I know for me I’ve never shied away from an opportunity to prove myself anywhere.”

“I’ve always firmly believed that you can’t deny talent and cream always rises to the top. Those are two things you always hear clichés among all sports not just pro wrestling and it’s something that I firmly believe. At the end of the day, if you’ve got it you’re going to get there. You’ve got to find the opportunities, the doors and the windows you can find and do what you need to do.”